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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT   LOS -ANGELES 


ROBERT  ERNEST  COWAN 


A  Catechism  of  Architecture 


JOHN  GASH.  Architect 


W.M.    DOXEV 
SAN    FRANCISCO 

1S93 


Copyright  1S95. 


2?       Dedicated  to  :my  Esteemed  Friend. 
^  the  President  of  the 

^  San   Francisco   Chapter  of  Architects, 

£E 

— '  BY    WHOM    THE    WORK    IS    ENDORSED. 


286705 


PREFACE. 

The  subject  of  Architecture  is  one  in  which 
very  few  outside  the  profession  seem  to  take  any 
interest,  owing,  no  doubt,  to  a  general  careless- 
ness and  a  feeling  that  except  to  know  what 
doors,  windows  and  a  roof  are,  nothing  more  is 
needed  ;  in  our  intercourse  with  those  outside  the 
profession,  we  find  most  people  thoroughly  de- 
ficient in  this  most  pleasing  of  all  studies. 

To  meet  this  want,  and  to  stimulate,  not  only 
the  school  boy,  the  student  of  history,  and  the 
contractor,  but  the  lady  or  gentleman  desiring 
to  build,  this  catechism  is  compiled  by  the  author. 


Office  of  the  Superintendent  of"| 
Public  Schools,  New  City  Hall,  / 

San  Francisco,  Cal.,  Sept.  5,  1893. 

I  have  examined  the  manuscript  of  Mr.  J.  Gash's 
pamphlet  on  Architecture. 

The  work  is  simple  and  practical,  and  seems  well 
adapted  for  the  general  information  and  knowledge 
of  technical  terms  needed  by  boys  and  young  men  in 
architectural  evening  classes. 

John  Swett. 

Superintendent. 


Pacific  Coast  Women's  Press  Association, 
San  Francisco,  Cal.,  Sept.,  1893. 

My  Dear  Mr.  Gash:  I  have  read  your  little 
Catechism  with  interest  and  instruction.  I  use  the 
word  "little"  only  in  the  sense  of  its  brevity,  not  of 
its  matter.  It  is  clear,  concise  and  simple.  I  think  it 
fills  a  long  felt  want. 

I  hope  the  Catechism  will  be  published.  There 
are  thousands  of  women  to  whom  the  technical  names 
used  in  architecture  are  as  Greek.  To  such,  as  well 
as  to  young  students,  your  explanations  would  indeed 
be  a  boon. 

Wishing  for  the  book  and  its  author  complete 
success, 

I  am  sincerely  yours, 

Nellie  Blessing  Evster. 


A  CATECHISM  OF  ARCHITECTURE. 


STYLES  OF  ARCHITECTURE. 

Chapter  I. 

O.    What  is  architecture  ? 
A.    The  art  of  building. 

O.  What  is  meant  by  the  orders  of  architec- 
ture? 

A.  The  style  of  columns  used  in  the  ancient 
temples  of  Greece  and  Rome. 

O.    How  many  orders  are  there? 
A.    Fi\e ;  the  Tuscan,  Doric,  Ionic,  Corinth- 
ian and  Composite. 

O.    Into  how  many  parts  is  an  order  divided? 
A.    Three  ;  the  column,  pedestal  and  entabla- 
ture. 

O.    How  many  parts  has  the  pedestal? 
A.    Three  ;  the  base,  die  and  cornice. 

O.    Into  how  many  parts  is  the  column  di\ided? 
A.    Three  ;  the  shafts,  base  and  capital. 


A   CATECHISM   OF  ARCHITECTURE. 


O.  Into  how  many  parts  is  the  entablature 
divided  ? 

A.    Three  ;  the  cornice,  frieze  and  architrave. 

O.    Into  how  many  parts  is  the  cornice  divided? 
A.    Three  ;  the  crown  moulding,  facia  or  co- 
rona, and  architra\"e. 

O.  From  what  are  the  heights  of  the  several 
parts  taken? 

A.    From  the  diameter  of  each  column  at  base. 

O.  What  are  the  heights  of  the  different 
columns  ? 

A.  The  Tuscan,  7  diameters;  Doric,  8;  Ionic, 
9;  Corinthian,  10;  Composite,  11. 

O.  What  are  the  principal  styles  of  architec- 
ture ? 

A.  The  classic,  or  ancient  style  ;  the  Gothic, 
or  modern  style. 

O.    How  are  architectural  buildings  divided  ? 

A.  Into  three  ;  the  church,  or  sacred  style  ; 
the  civil,  or  commercial  style  ;  the  domestic,  or 
home  style. 

O.    What  are  the  more  modern  styles  called  ? 
A.    The  Italian,  the  Byzantine,  and  the  Ren- 
aissance. 


A    CATECHISM    OF   ARCHITECTURE. 


O.    What  is  the  basis  of  the  Gothic  style  ? 
A.    The  Gothic  arch,  which  has  the  base  of  an 
equilateral  triangle  for  the  width  of  the  opening. 

O.  What  are  known  as  the  different  styles  of 
Gothic  architecture  ? 

A.  The  Norman,  the  early  English,  and  the 
perpendicular  style. 


A   CATECHISM    OF   ARCHITECTURE. 


ARCHITECTURAL    AUTHORS. 

Chapter  II. 

O.    Who  are  the  principal  writers  on  classic 
architecture  ? 

A.    Mgnoli.  Gwilt  and  Sir  Wm.  Chambers. 

O.    Who  on  ( lOthic  architecture  ? 
A.    Parker.  Pugen  and  Brandon. 

O.    Who  on  the  general  history  of  architec- 
ture? 

A.    Fero'uson,  Gwilt  and  Richardson. 


A    CATECHISM    OF    ARCHITECTURE. 


ORDERS    OF   ARCHITECTURE. 

Chapter  III. 

O.    How  will  you  know  the  Tuscan  order? 
A.    The  columns  are  plain,  with  plain  capital 
and  base.     The  entablature  is  also  plain. 

O.    Why  is  it  called  the  Tuscan  order  ? 
A.    Being  first  used  in  Tuscany,  Italy  ;  hence 
called  the  Tuscan  order. 

O.    How  will  you  know  the  Doric? 

A.  The  columns  are  plain,  with  plain  capital 
and  base,  the  entablature  having-  projecting  faces, 
called  trigliefs,  with  drops  called  gutta,  in  imi- 
tation of  drops  of  rain. 

O.    Why  is  it  called  Doric? 
A.    Because  used  by  the  Dorians,   the  early 
inhabitants  of  Greece,  about  400  years  B.  C. 

O.    How  do  you  know  the  Ionic? 

A.  The  column  is  fluted,  and  has  volutes  in 
the  capital  resembling  the  curls  of  ladies'  hair  as 
then  worn. 

O.    Why  called  Ionic  ^ 

A.  After  the  people  of  a  part  of  Greece  called 
lonians,  who  tried  to  improve  on  the  Doric 
order. 


A    CATECHISM    OF   ARCHITECTURE. 


O.    How  is  the  Corinthian  column  formed? 
A.    Its  cokimn  is  fluted,  with  capital  and  base. 

O.    How  is  the  capital  formed? 

A.  With  cap  called  abacus  and  lea\es  of  the 
acanthus  plant,  or  parsley  leaves,  surrounding 
what  is  called  the  bell  of  the  capital. 

O.    How  is  the  entablature  divided? 

A.  Into  cornice  and  frieze,  which  is  decorated 
with  tigures  of  animals,  sacrifices,  wars,  etc. ,  so 
that  all  may  read,  there  having  been  no  printing 
in  those  days. 

O.    Why  called  the  Corinthian  order? 

A.  The  design  is  supposed  to  have  been  in- 
\ented  by  one  CalHmacus,  but  was  generally  used 
in  the  city  of  Corinth,  then  in  its  glory  ;  hence 
was  called  the  Corinthian  order. 

O.    To  whom  was  the  order  de\oted ? 

A.  To  the  temples  of  Venus,  Flora,  Proser- 
pine, and  the  nymphs  of  fountains,  because  of 
the  flowers,  foliage  and  volutes  with  which  it  is 
adorned. 


A   CATECHISM   OF   ARCHITECTURE. 


MOULDINGS. 
Chapter  W. 

O.    What  are  mouldings? 

A.  The  putting  together  of  certain  parts  for 
ornaments,  and  to  reflect  light  and  shade  on 
buildings  to  create  artistic  effect. 

0.    How  many  mouldings  are  there? 
A.    Eight. 

O.    How  many  figures  in  arithmetic  ? 
A.    Nine. 

O.    How  many  notes  in  music? 
A.    Seven. 

O.    Name  the  figures  or  digits  in  arithmetic. 
A.    I,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9. 

O.    Name  the  notes  in  music. 
A.    Do,  re,  mi,  fa,  sol,  hi,  si. 

O.    Name  the  mouldings  in  architecture. 
A.    The    filet,    bead,   torus,   scotia,   o\ola,   or 
quarter  round,  cima  recta,  cima  reversa,  cavetto. 


14  A    CATECHISM    OF    ARCHITECTURE. 

DOORS    AND   WINDOWS. 

Chapter  \'. 

O.  What  are  the  principal  openings  to  a 
house  called? 

A.    Doors  and  windows. 

O.    What  are  the  parts  of  a  door  called? 

A.  The  sides  are  called  stiles,  the  top  and 
bottom,  rails,  and  the  center  parts  are  called 
panels  ;  the  lock,  hinges  and  threshold. 

O.    What  is  the  transom  light? 
A.    The  light  over  a  doorway,  separated  from 
the  door  by  what  is  called  a  transom  bar. 

O.  What  are  the  principal  parts  of  a  window- 
called  ? 

A.  The  sash,  and  the  glass,  which  weighs  i6, 
21  or  26  ounces  to  a  square  foot. 

O.    What  are  the  parts  of  a  sash  ? 

A.  The  two  stiles,  the  top  and  bottom  rail, 
the  bars,  and  the  meeting  rail,  where  two  rails 
meet  in  the  middle  of  the  window. 

O.    What  is  the  pulley  stile? 
A.    That  part  where  the  pulleys  and  cords  are 
set  to  raise  the  windows  up  and  down. 


A    CATECHISM    OF   ARCHITECTURE. 


O.    What  are  the  pockets  ? 
A.    Where   the   weights  are    closed    in    from 
view. 

O.  What  are  the  parts  of  a  window  frame 
called  ? 

A.  The  pulley  stile,  parting  bead,  stop  bead 
(inside),  staff  bead,  window  stool. 

O.    What  is  the  partino-  bead? 

A.  The  small  bead  that  prevents  the  sashes 
from  touching  each  other  as  they  pass  up  and 
down. 

O.    What  is  the  stop  bead? 
A.    The  bead  that  is  put  inside  to  keep  the 
sashes  from  falling  in. 

O.    What  is  the  staff  bead? 
A.    The  bead  on  the  outside  that  keeps  the 
sash  from  falling  out. 

O.    What  is  the  window  stool  ? 
A.    The    lower  part   of  frame   on  which   the 
sashes  rest. 


l6  A   CATECHISM   OF   ARCHITECTURE. 


BRICK   WORK. 

Chapter  VI. 

O.    What  is  brick  work? 
A.    The  art  of  laying  brick. 

O.    What  is  the  size  of  a  brick? 
A.    Eight  and  one-half  by  two  and  one-half 
by  three  and  one-half  inches. 

O.    What  is  meant  by  bond  in  a  brick  wall  ^ 
A.    Tying  the  front  and  back  side  of  a  wall 
together. 

O.    How  many  sorts  of  bonds  are  there  ? 
A.    Three  ;  the  English,  American  and  Flem- 
ish bond. 

O.    What  is  the  English  bond? 
A.    W^hen  every  second   course  is  all  headers 
and  all  stretchers. 

O.    What  is  the  American  bond? 
A.    Four   courses    of  stretchers    and    one    of 
headers. 

O.    What  is  the  Flemish  bond? 
A.    When  e\'ery  second   course   is  a  header 
and  a  stretcher. 

O.    What  is  meant  bv  header  and  stretcher  ? 


A    CATECHISM    OF    ARCHITECTURE.  I J 

A.  A  brick  laid  in  a  wall  lengthwise  is  called 
a  stretcher,  and  laid  crossways  of  wall  is  called 
a  header. 

O.    What  are  joints  in  brick  work  ? 

A.    The  mortar  spaces  between  brick. 

O.  How  many  kinds  of  joints  are  usually 
known  in  brick  work? 

A.  Three  ;  the  flush  joint,  the  struck  joint 
and  raised  joint. 

O.  How  many  brick  are  laid  by  a  bricklayer 
in  a  day? 

A.    1,200  to  1,500. 

O.  What  is  the  general  thickness  of  brick 
walls? 

A.  Four,  thirteen,  seventeen  and  twenty-four 
inches. 

O.    How  many  bricks  to  a  cubic  foot  ? 

A.    Twenty. 

O.    C^ive  name  of  bricklayer's  tools. 

A.  A  trowel,  a  plumb-rule,  a  level,  a  square, 
a  rod  or  pole,  a  pair  of  compasses,  a  hod  and 
ladder. 

O.    What  is  hre  brick  ? 

A.  A  sort  of  hard  burnt  brick,  made  from 
tire  clay,  used  in  lining  furnaces  and  hre  places, 
by  reason  of  their  resisting  heat. 


iS        A  CATECHISM  OF  ARCHITECTURE. 


MASON  WORK. 

Chapter  VII. 

Q.    What  is  masonry  ? 

A.    The  art  of  building  with  stone. 

Q.  What  are  the  different  styles  of  masonry 
usually  called? 

A.  Roman,  or  rubble  work  ;  Ashler,  cut  or 
dressed  work. 

Q.    What  is  Roman  work? 
A.    Stones,  of  uneven  shape,  laid  without  re- 
gard to  courses. 

Q.    What  is  rubble  work? 

A.  Stones,  of  uneven  sizes,  laid  in  courses  of 
about  iS  inches  wide. 

O.    What  is  Ashler  ? 

A.  Stones  dressed  to  an  even  length  and 
width. 

Q.    What  is  cut  stone  work  ? 
A.    Masonry    dressed    to    a    square    or    rect- 
angular shape  and  fine-hammered  on  face. 

Q.    What  are  quoins  ? 

A.  Dressed  stones  set  at  angles  or  corners  of 
buildings. 


A    CATECHISM    OF   ARCHITECTURE.  I9 

Q.    What  is  an  arch  ? 

A.    A  circular  opening  over  a  door  or  window  ? 

Q.    What  is  a  keystone  ? 

A.    The  highest  stone  in  an  archway,  which 
keeps  the  other  stones  in  place. 

Q.    How  is  masonry  measured  ? 
A.    By  the  solid  perch  ? 

Q.    How  much  is  a  perch  of  masonry  ? 
A.    Sixteen  and   one-half  feet  long,   one   foot 
high,  and  one  foot  six  inches  thick. 


A    CATECHISM    OF   ARCHITECTURE. 


IRON   WORK. 
Chapter  \'III. 

Q.  What  is  iron  ? 

A.  A  metal  dug  out  of  the  earth,  and  much 
used  in  building  construction. 

Q.  How  many  kinds  of  iron  are  there? 

A.  Three;  pig  iron,  wrought  iron  and  cast 
iron. 

Q.  What  is  pig  iron? 

A.  Iron  in  its  natural  state,  after  being  melted 
in  the  furnace. 

Q.  What  is  wrought  iron? 

A.  Cast  iron  retined. 

Q.  What  is  cast  iron  ? 

A.  Melted  iron  run  into  moulds. 

Q.  What  color  is  iron? 

A.  A  deep  gray. 

Q.  What  is  the  weight  of  iron  ^ 

A.  Four  and  one-half  pounds  to  a  cubic  inch. 

Q.  What  is  sheet  iron? 

A.  Wrought  iron  hammered  our  very  thin, 
and  used  in  boilers  ;  then  called  boiler  iron. 

Q.  What  is  steel  ? 

A.  Iron  tempered  to  a  great  hardness. 


A   CATECHISM    OF   ARCHITECTURE. 


LEAD. 

Chapter  IX. 

Q.    How  is  lead  used  in  building? 
A.    In    roof    covering,    in    gutters    and    con- 
ductors, in  plumbing  and  soldering. 

Q.    What  is  solder? 

A.    A  mixture  of  lead  and  tin. 

Q.    What  is  sheet  lead  ? 

A.    Lead  run  on  a  table  to  sheets  of  various 
thicknesses. 

Q.    What  are  the  other  metals  used  in  building? 
A.    Copper  and  zinc. 


A    CATECHISM    OF    ARCHITECTURE. 


SLATING. 

Chapter  X. 

Q.    What  is  slate  ? 

A.  A  sort  of  mineral  used  in  the  covering  of 
roofs  of  buildings. 

Q.    Wherein  does  it  differ  from  stone  ? 
A.    It  is  found   in  layers  that  are  easily  split 
into  thin  pieces  of  various  sizes. 

Q.  What  are  the  instruments  used  in  quarry- 
ing slate  called? 

A.    Slate  knives,  bars  and  wedges  ? 

Q.    Where  are  the  slate  quarries  found  ? 

A.  Bangor,  Wales  :  \'ermont,  and  Bangor, 
Me. ,  U.  S.  Also  very  fine  slate  quarries  in  the 
south  of  Ireland,  and  a  few  in  Scotland. 


A   CATECHISM    OF   ARCHITECTURE. 


PLUMBING. 
Chapter  XI. 

O.    What  is  plumbino-^ 

A.  The  art  of  arranging"  bath  rooms,  wash- 
bowls, sinks  and  water-closets  in  a  building  to 
make  it  healthy  and  convenient. 

Q.  What  are  the  names  of  the  several  pipes 
used  in  plumbing? 

A.  The  supply  pipe,  the  waste  pipe,  soil  pipe 
and  vent  pipe. 

O.    What  is  the  supply  pipe? 

A.  That  which  conveys  water  from  the  out- 
side to  the  several  rooms  in  the  building,  and  is 
generally  made  of  galvanized  iron. 

O.    What  is  the  waste  pipe  ? 

A.  That  which  carries  away  all  waste  water 
from  building  into  sewer,  and  is  generally  2 -inch 
iron  pipe. 

O.    What  is  the  soil  pipe? 

A.  That  which  conveys  all  refuse  and  waste 
from  the  water-closets  to  sewer,  and  is  generally 
4  inches  in  diameter,  and  made  of  cast  iron. 

O.    What  is  a  vent  pipe? 


A    CATECHISM    OF    ARCHITECTURE. 


A.  A  pipe  of  cast  iron,  running  from  the 
water-closet  or  sewer  to  roof 

O.    What  is  a  sewer? 

A.  An  underground  opening  of  brick  or 
earthenware  pipe,  to  convey  all  refuse  from 
building  to  some  outside  place,  called  a  cess- 
pool, etc. 

O.    What  is  a  trap  ? 

A.  A  curved,  bent  piece  of  pipe,  used  in 
waste  and  soil  pipes  to  prevent  the  return  of  im- 
pure air  or  gas  into  buildings. 

O.    What  is  a  tank? 

A.  A  square  or  circular  vessel  for  holding- 
water  in  large  quantities,  usually  set  on  roofs  to 
supply  water  to  a  boiler. 

O.    What  is  a  boiler? 

A.  A  circular  vessel  made  of  galvanized  iron 
or  copper,  to  hold  heated  water  for  baths,  wash- 
bowls, sinks,  etc. 

O.    How  is  water  heated  in  a  boiler? 
A.    From  hot-water-back   in  range  or  stove, 
and  connected  with  boiler. 

O.  How  is  hot  and  cold  water  in  boiler  at 
same  time? 


A    CATECHISM    OF    ARCHITECTURE.  25 

A.  Hot  water  rises  to  upper  part  of  boiler, 
while  cold  water  sets  in  lower  part. 

O.    What  is  the  cause  ? 

A.  The  hot  water  being  lighter,  rises  to  the 
top,  as  does  oil  on  water,  and  is  thence  con- 
veyed to  the  different  rooms. 

O.  How  are  explosions  in  boilers  by  o\er  hot 
water  prevented? 

A.  By  a  vent  pipe  running  through  top  of 
boiler  to  within  a  foot  of  bottom,  through  which 
cold  water  is  conveyed  into  boiler. 

O.    What  is  soldering? 

A.  The  connecting  of  lead  or  iron  pipes  to- 
gether by  solder. 

O.    What  is  solder? 

A.  A  mixture  of  lead  and  tin,  used  for  con- 
necting piping,  etc. 

O.  What  are  the  names  of  the  tools  used 
generally  by  plumbers? 

A.  The  soldering-iron,  the  shave-hooks,  ladle, 
pliers,  pipe-holder,  solder  pot,  blast  furnace, 
wrenches,  etc. 

Q.  What  are  the  openings  into  baths,  sinks 
and  wash-bowls  called  ? 

A.    Bibs,  faucets,  water-cocks. 


26        A  CATECHISM  OF  ARCHITECTURE. 

PLASTERING. 

Chapter  XII. 

O.    What  is  plastering-  ? 

A.    Coating  walls  with  mortar. 

O.    What  is  mortar? 

A.    Material  made  of  lime,  sand  and  hair,  in 
suitable  proportions, 

O.    How  many  barrels  of  lime  go  to  loo  yards 
of  plaster  ? 

A.    One  and  one-half  barrels. 

O.    How  much  sand? 

A.    One  and  one-half  tons. 

O.    How  much  hair? 
A.    Eighteen  pounds. 

O.    What  is  meant  b\-  lathing? 
A.    Strips  of  wood  nailed  to  studding  to  hold 
the  mortar  by  what  are  called  keys. 

O.    What  is  the  length  of  a  lathi* 
A.    Four  feet  long,  by  one  and  one-half  inches 
wide,  and  one-quarter  inch  thick. 

O.    How  many  laths  in  a  bundle? 
A.    250,  weighing  100  pounds. 


A    CATECHISM    OF    ARCHITECTURE.  27 

Q.    How  many  laths  cover  loo  yards? 

A.    1,500,  set  three-eighths  of  an  inch  apart. 

O.    What  is  meant  by  breaking  joints? 
A.    Setting  ends  of  laths  out  of  line  after  every 
tenth  lath. 

O.    How  is  the  second  or  putty  coat  made? 
A.    Of  select  lime  and  plaster  of  Paris,  in  suit- 
able quantities. 

O.    How  much  of  each  to  loo  yards? 
A.    Three-quarters  of  a  barrel  of  select  lime 
and  125  pounds  of  plaster, 

O.    How  much  sand  to  a  cubic  foot? 
A.    117  pounds  of  river  sand,  and  loo  pounds 
of  coarse  sand. 

Q.    What  is  the  weight  of  a  cubic  foot  of  lime  • 
A.    Fifty-three  pounds. 

O.    How  many  cubic  feet  in  a  barrel  of  lime? 
A.    Two  and  three-quarters. 

O.    What  is  the  size  of  a  barrel  of  lime  ? 
A.    Twenty-eight  inches  high,  fifteen  inches  in 
diameter. 

O.    What  is  meant  by  stucco  work  ? 

A.  Cornices  and  ceilings,  and  other  panel 
decorations,  put  on  with  plaster  of  Paris  and 
select  or  diamond  lime. 


28  A   CATECHISM   OF   ARCHITECTURE. 

O.    What  is  meant  by  floated  work? 

A.  Three-coat  work,  being  so  called  from 
using  a  plain,  flat  board,  called  a  float,  with 
which  to  make  the  surface  smooth  and  even. 

O.    What  are  screeds? 

A.  Strips  of  even  thickness,  set  four  or  five 
feet  apart,  to  give  plastering  an  even  surface  and 
thickness. 

O.  What  are  the  names  of  plasterer's  imple- 
ments ? 

A.    The  trowel,  hand-float,  darby  and  mould. 

O.    What  is  the  trowel? 

A.  A  steel  plate,  about  four  inches  wide  and 
eight  inches  long,  used  for  spreading  the  mortar. 

O.    What  is  the  darby? 

A.  A  board  nine  inches  square,  one-half  inch 
thick,  with  a  round  piece  nailed  on  the  back  for 
a  handle,  and  which  is  used  to  hold  the  mortar, 
being  held  by  the  left  hand,  while  with  the  trowel 
in  the  right  the  mortar  is  spread. 

O.    What  is  the  mould? 

A.  A  form  cut  out  of  tin  in  w^hatever  shape  a 
cornice  is  required  to  be  run,  which  being  nailed 
to  a  wooded  board  with  handle,  is  run  along  the 
soft  stucco  to  bring  out  the  desired  shape  of 
cornice. 


A    CATECHISM    OP^    ARCHITECTURE.  29 

O.    How  is  plaster  measured  ? 
A.    By  the  square  yard,  half  of  the  openings 
being  allowed. 

O.    How  is  stucco  corner  measured? 
A.    The  girt  of  cross-sections  being  taken  and 
measured  at  so  much  per  foot. 

O.  How  many  laths  put  on  count  a  day's 
work  ? 

A.    1,800  to  2,000. 

O.  How  many  yards  of  rough  plaster,  and 
how  many  two-coat  work  make  a  day's  work? 

A.  180  to  200  of  brown  coat,  and  loo  to  125 
of  putty  work. 


A    CATECHISM    OF    ARCHITECTURE. 


FRAMINCx. 

Chapter  XIII. 

O.    What  is  framing? 

A,    The  art  of  putting  pieces  of  timber  to- 
gether to  form  a  structure. 

O.    What  is  studding  ? 

A.    The  sticks  of  the  outer  walls  or  partitions 
of  a  house. 

O.    What  are  joists  ? 

A.    The  timbers  set  to  sustain  the  flooring  and 
roof 

O.    What  are  headers  and  trimmers? 
A.    The  timbers  set  round  an  opening,  such 
as  a  fireplace  or  stair-hole. 

O.    What  are  rafters? 

A.    The  timbers  which   are   used   to   support 
the  roof 

O.    What  are  trusses  ? 

A.    The  framing  of  large  roofs  on  which  the 
rafters  set. 

O.    What  are  the    several    parts    of  a    truss 
usually  called  ? 


A    CATECHISM    OF    ARCHITECTURE. 


A.  The  tie-beam,  the  king-post,  the  queen- 
post,  the  pudins,  the  pole-plate,  the  ridge,  the 
collar-brace,  the  angle-tie  and  dragon-tie. 

O.    What  is  the  tie-beam  ? 
A.    The  timber  that  goes  from  one  side  wall 
to  the  other. 

O.    What  is  the  king-post? 

A.    The  center  post  that  extends  to  the  ridge. 

O.    What  are  the  queen-posts? 

A,    Those  set  on  either  side  of  the  king-post. 

O.    What  are  the  purlins? 
A.    Those  timbers  that  extend  from  truss  to 
truss  on  which  the  rafters  rest. 

O.    What  is  the  pole-plate? 
A.    The  plate  on  which  the  end  of  the  jack- 
rafters  rest. 

O.    What  is  the  ridge? 

A.  The  board  that  catches  the  end  of  jack- 
rafters  at  the  top. 

O.    What  is  the  collar-brace? 
A.    The  piece  which  joins  the  two  rafters  to- 
gether about  center,  where  no  truss  is  used. 

O.    What  is  the  angle-tie? 
A.    A   piece  which  joins  the  two   plates   to- 
gether at  the  angle  of  the  building. 


32        A  CATECHISM  OF  ARCHITECTURE. 

O.    What  is  the  dragon-tie? 

A.  That  tie  which  joins  the  angle-tie  to  the 
plates. 

O.  What  are  the  names  of  the  different 
trusses  ? 

A.  The  railroad  truss,  the  king-post  truss, 
the  hammer-beam  truss,  and  the  scissor  truss. 

O.    What  is  the  railroad  truss  ? 

A.  A  truss  generally  used  on  railroads, 
formed  with  planks  and  an  iron  rod  bolted  at 
both  ends  of  planks,  and  extending  under  planks, 
and  resting  on  an  iron  piece  acting  as  a  sort  of 
fulcrum. 

O.    Wliat  is  a  king-post  truss  ? 

A.  A  truss  joined  by  a  tie-beam  and  post 
called  king-posts,  and  ha\'ing  rafters  called  prin- 
cipals, on  which  purlins  and  jack-rafters  rest. 

O.    What  is  a  hammer-beam  truss? 

A.  A  truss  with  a  plate  called  a  hammer, 
one-half  resting  on  walls  and  caught  by  foot  of 
rafter,  and  the  other  part  supported  by  a  bracket, 
on  which  pieces  called  uprights  rest  to  support 
rafters. 

O.    What  is  a  scissor  truss  ? 

A.  A  truss  with  cross  braces  in  the  form  of  a 
pair  of  common  scissors. 


A    CATECHISM    OF    ARCHITECTURE. 


PAINTING. 

Chapter  XIV. 

O.    What  is  paintino;-  ? 

A.  The  covering-  of  wood,  iron,  etc.,  with  a 
Hquor  called  paint. 

O.    Of  what  is  paint  composed? 
A.    Of  white  lead,  oil  and  dryers. 

O.    What  are  the  best  oils  used  ? 
A.    Linseed  oil,  boiled  or  raw. 

O.    How  is  paint  applied? 
A.    By  brushes  made  of  hog's  hair  and  camel's 
hair. 

O.    Name  other  painter's  tools. 

A.  A  pallet,  a  scraping  knife,  earthen  pots  for 
colors,  cans  for  turpentine,  a  grinding  stone  and 
muller. 

O.    What  is  meant  by  priming? 
A.    It  is  the  first  coat  of  white  lead  and  oil  put 
on. 

g.    What  is  flat-work  ? 

A.  The  finish  coat  with  oil  and  tur})entine,  in 
about  two  parts  turpentine  to  one  of  oil. 


34        A  CATECHISM  OF  ARCHITECTURE. 

O.    What  is  linseed  oil? 

A.  Oil  obtained  from  linseed;  principally  from 
the  Baltic  Sea  and  Bombay. 

O.    What  is  white  lead? 

A.  The  metal  lead,  changed  by  the  vapor  of 
carbolic  acid  into  what  is  called  white  lead. 

O.    What  is  distemper? 

A.  Finishing  with  whiting  and  water,  and 
with  glue  size. 

O.    What  is  tinting? 

A.  Different  colors  used  with  whiting,  for 
coloring  walls. 

O.    What  is  putty  ? 

A.  A  mixture  of  whiting  and  linseed  oil,  used 
in  setting  glass  in  sashes,  the  process  being- 
called  glazing, 

O.    What  are  pigments  ? 

A.  Different  earths  or  minerals  used  in  color- 
ing. 

O.    What  is  fresco  painting? 
A.    Decorating  walls  and  ceilings  with  water- 
colors  or  oil  in  different  tints. 

O.    What  is  graining? 

A.  Imitating  different  woods  with  tints,  called 
also  combing  or  marbleizing. 


A    CATECHISM    OF    ARCHITECTURE.  35 

O.    What  is  varnishing-  ? 

A.  The  application  of  a  gum  of  a  transparent 
nature,  used  for  giving  a  smooth  or  glossy  sur- 
face to  painting  and  graining,  such  as  copal  \'ar- 
nish,  elastica,  etc. 

O.    What  is  rubbing-down  work? 

A.  Smoothing  the  painted  surface  with  sand 
or  emery-paper. 

O.    What  is  staining? 

A.  A  substitute  for  painting,  to  imitate  the 
natural  wood,  which  is  also,  generally,  sized  and 
varnished. 

O.    What  is  sizing? 

A.  A  mixture  of  boiled  glue  and  water,  made 
Aery  thin. 

O.    What  is  sanding? 

A.  Throwing  fine  white  sand  on  outside  paint 
work,  while  wet,  to  give  it  a  stone-like  appear- 
ance. 

O.    W^hat  is  gilding? 

A.    Co\ering  wood  or  iron  with  gold-leaf. 
O.  How  thick  is  gold- leaf? 
A.    About  one  thirty-thousandth    part  of  an 
inch. 

O.    How  is  it  kept? 

A,  In  books  measuring  about  three  and  one- 
third  inches  bv  three  inches. 


^6  A    CATECHISM    OF    ARCHITECTURE. 


PAPER-HANGING. 

Chapter  XV. 

O.    What  is  paper-hanging? 
A.    The  art  of  covering  walls  with  paper  of 
different  patterns. 

O.    How  is  paper  sold  ? 
A.    By  the  roll. 

O.    How  many  yards  in  a  roll  ? 

A.  A  roll  is  twehe  yards  long,  twenty  inches 
wide  ;  hence,  one  yard  long  covers  hve  square 
feet. 


A    CATECHISM    OF   ARCHITECTURE.  37 


STAIRS. 

Chapter  XVI. 

O.    What  are  stairs? 

A.    Steps  leading  from  one  floor  to  another, 
either  above  or  below. 

O.    Name  the  principal  parts  of  stairs. 
A.    The  step  and   riser,   the  newel-post,   the 
rail,  the  baluster,  called  also  banister. 

O.    What  is  the  balustrade? 
A.    One  name  for  the  baluster,  newel-post  and 
rail. 

Q.    What  is  the  newel-post  ? 

A.    The  post  at  the  lower  landing  of  the  stairs. 

O.    What  is  the  rail  ? 

A.    That  cap  on  top  of  balusters  to  keep  them 
in  place. 

O.    What  is  the  baluster? 
A.    A  post  set  on  each  step,  and  fastened  to 
rail  for  protection. 

O.    What  is  the  tread  ? 

A.    That  part  on  which  the  foot  rests  as  you 
ascend. 


A    CATECHISM    OP~    ARCHITECTURE. 


O.    What  is  the  riser? 

A.    That  part  set  between  two  steps. 

O.  How  many  sorts  of  stairs  are  there  gen- 
erally known? 

A.  Three  ;  the  geometrical,  the  bracket  stair, 
and  the  dog-railed  stairway. 

O.    What  is  called  the  geometrical  stair? 
A.    One  whose  opening  is  down  the  center, 
or,  as  it  is  called,  an  open  newel. 

O.    What  is  the  bracket  style  ? 
A.    One  which  has  an  opening  or  well,  and  is 
supported  by  landings  or  carriages. 

O.    What  is  a  dog-rail  stairway? 

A.    One  which  has  no  opening  or  well-hole. 

O.    What  is  the  ramp  j* 

A.    The  bent  part  of  rail  near  newel-posts. 

O.    What  is  a  curtail  step? 

A.  The  step  at  ground  floor  which  curves 
round  the  newel-post,  like  a  cur- dogs  tail ;  hence 
the  name. 


A    CATECHISM    OF    ARCHITECTURE.  39 


MEMORANDUMS. 

One  brick  weighs 5  lbs. 

One  barrel  lime  weighs 200    " 

One  gallon  liquor  weighs 10    " 

One  sq.  ft.  pine,  board  measure,  weighs     5    " 

One  keg  nails  weighs 108    " 

One  thousand  laths  weigh 400    ' ' 

One  cubic  foot  sand  weighs 150    " 

One  lime  barrel  measures  2  ft.  4  in.  by  i  ft. 
3  in.  diameter. 

One  gallon  oil,  one  pint  dryers,  ten  pounds 
white  lead,  will  paint  ten  yards,  two  coats,  or 
three  yards,  three  coats. 

One  acre,  20S.71  feet  square. 

One  quarter-section,  2,638  feet  square. 

One  section,  5,276  feet  square. 

One  cubic  foot  Alcohol  weighs 49  lbs. 

Brandy  "       57 

"           "           Coal  "       90 

"           "           Granite  "       165 

Ice  "       57 

"           "           Ivory  "       114 

"           "           Lime  "       50 

"           "           Marble  ''       170 

Milk  ''       64 


40 


A   CATECHISM    OF    ARCHITECTURE. 


One  cubic  foot  Oil  weighs 57  lbs 

Porcelain  weighs i66 

Salt  weighs 133 

Sandstone  weighs 140 

Slate  weighs 167 

Snow  weighs 6 

Soap  weighs 56 

Water  weighs 62 

Wine  weighs 62^ 


INDEX 


Architectural  Authors lo 

Brick  Work 16-17 

Doors  and  Windows 14-15 

Framing 30-32 

Iron  Work      20 

Lead 21 

Mason  Work 18-19 

Memorandums 39-40 

Mouldings 13 

Orders  of  Architecture 11-12 

Painting 33-35 

Paper-Hanging 36 

Plastering 26-29 

Plumbing 23-25 

Slating 22 

Stairs 37-38 

Styles  of  Architecture 7-9 


This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last 
date  stamped  below 


M26 


^i 


^UG5    195!/ 
oMf^  %  3  1954 


^L  'm'i2n 


HETOi  D^C3   1964 

li~ECl  I  V  E  D 

MAIN  LOAN  DESK 


oec 


21964 


A.M.  P.M. 

7iat9ll0llllll2lll2l3l4:igl6 


^KNIA 


5m-6,'41(3644) 


B     000  014  394     1 


